Curriculum Artifact Analysis
Introduction: When one thinks of a curriculum what is it that comes to one’s mind? Is it just an official document or is there something more than that. The term curriculum has various perspectives in general it constitutes the teaching and learning process or one can say that is the intended curriculum that is usually presented in official document and is employed as a guiding document . Within a classroom setting the curriculum can be altered through a range of interactions and what is delivered is the “implemented curriculum “ and what the learners actually learn or achieve is the achieved or learned curriculum. In addition to this there is the hidden curriculum which helps develop moral values and beliefs
The tools and techniques used are comprehensive which helps assess a learner’s development in the area of learning like the ability to understand, analysis, and apply knowledge acquired through creative process that are evaluated. The evaluation section was divided into two broad categories Scholastic that looked at the areas which were subject specific and Co-Scholastic that included activities that were co-curricular like life skills, attitudes and values. The Scholastic evaluations was divided into Summative assessment to help analyse how much the students have learned after teaching through various medium like multiple choice questions, long and short answers , match the following , fill in the blanks and understanding diagrams in science and Formative assessment were to evaluate the students everyday learning situations during teaching to help identify gaps which help provide feedback to teachers to be able take remedial action through the use of various tools like observation, document analysis ,peer reviews ,self-assessment ,tests and implementation of various techniques like projects ,assignments , activities , making of posters ,charts ,collages ,group discussions and seminars. While the life skills activities looked at enhancing the thinking, social and emotional skills, the summative assessment looked at assessing skills like teamwork and what does it intend to achieve, should it prepare a child for the future or should it help a child understand what he/she learns. When we think of curriculum there are various types of curriculum that one comes across like objective driven, content driven, process driven and many a time it is a combination of one or more curriculum that is in practice. When we talk of curriculum should it be designed to give children the confidence and ability to face the world and should it help them apply the knowledge they gained in their own daily situations. In a culturally diverse country like India it is good to include local culture and traditional skills and also no one particular curriculum will serve the purpose and hence it has to be a mix. Just as the Indian Educational philosophers envisaged, education to be an engagement of mind along with body and spirit where it should not focus on preparation for a job but rather a preparation for life and it has to help build self confidence among the children to face their fear and must also give the agency to the learner . Pedagogical practices must thereby enable students to engage with creative processes that are unique and provide the freedom of expression for their ideas through exploration and experimentation therefore freedom must be an intrinsic part of pedagogy and teachers must act as facilitators rather than controllers to help guide the creative process in a
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Show MoreThe National Curriculum is split up into stages, these stages are determined by age groups, key stage 1 ranges from ages 5-7 which is the year group 1 and 2, then there is key stage 2 which ranges in ages 7-11 this is year groups 3-6. Key stages 3 and 4 are secondary stages, so at key stage 3 the pupils are 11-14. At the final stage of the pupils development through the National Curriculum, key stage 5 they are 14-16, at this stage they get more choice in which areas of the curriculum they want to continue in. However some subjects which are part of the National Curriculum such as, english, maths and science are compulsory. At each stage expectations are set as to pupils performance levels. Targets are laid out for programmes of study for pupils. The national curriculum helps the school create a working relationship, not only with the pupils but also with the parents. The curriculum is a way to create many more opportunities for all levels of achievement. It can help with building on certain strengths in a pupils ability. When we consider the different structures to which the curriculum can take on we must look at the way in which the information set out through the curriculum is put across to the pupils through content and organization. David Scott a Professor of Educational Leadership and Learning at the University of Lincoln?s International Institute for Educational Leadership. He is an expert in curriculum studies, David Scott identifies and depicts six curriculum ideologies. These are Foundationalism, Conventionalism, Instrumentalism, Technical Rationality, Critical Pedagogy and Post-modernism.
Franklin Bobbitt in The Curriculum writes: ‘The central theory [of curriculum] is simple. Human life, however varied, consists in the performance of specific activities. Education that prepares for life is one that prepares definitely and adequately for these specific activities. People need the abilities, attitudes, habits, appreciations and forms of knowledge and these will be the objectives of the curriculum. The curriculum will then be that series of experiences which children and youth must have by way of obtaining those objectives.’ (Bobbit...
...m while having freedom to choose how to teach it. This allows the curriculum to become more personable. Teachers currently associate curriculum with government mandates. They believe that curriculum is what they are told to teach instead of what is desired to learn. Curriculum in the educational setting, according to Pinar, is intended to be used to teach us to think intellectually, sensitively, and with courage to prepare us to be individuals committed to other individuals.
The Australian curriculum has been designed for children in their schooling years from foundation to year twelve. Currently the curriculum has covered four learning areas (English, Mathematics, Science and History) from kindergarten to year ten. “The Australian Curriculum describes knowledge, skills and understanding organised by learning areas.” (ACARA, 2010 d). Each learning area contains a: rationale – describing the nature of learning, aims – the intended result of learning from the curriculum, year level description, strands – interrelated broad organisers for the content in each learning area, content descriptions – describe what teachers are expected to teach, content elaborations – content description sup...
The aligning of the written curriculum to state standards is an important step in the curriculum development process. Curriculum alignment, as defined by Glatthorn, is the process of aligning the written curriculum, the tested curriculum and the supported curriculum to make the taught curriculum more effective. (2004). In turn, it is hoped that a more effective taught curriculum will prepare students to perform better on the tested curriculum.
The Australian Curriculum encompasses many different definitions of curriculum. Marsh (2008) provides various definitions of curriculum such as that it is a plan for learning, a plan for teaching, it is what is taught in schools, a set of subjects, content and a set of materials. Marsh (2010) also explores similar definitions in that curriculum is that which is taught in school, a set of subjects, content, materials, performance objectives and a plan. ACARA mention that the key elements for K-10 will be on content descriptions and achievement standards. It also points out that it will show what teachers are to teach and what students need to learn. Brady & Kennedy (2010) have provided a definition of curriculum that is linked with that of working people and write that it is a means by which students gain the requisite ...
Kim Marshall (2005) identified in her article “Let’s Clarify the Way We Use the Word ‘Curriculum’” seven different definitions for the word curriculum. These distinctly defined areas are: standards, frameworks for each grade level, grade-level learning expectations, classroom methods aligning to standards, commercial programs, teaching units, and finally classroom materials. Therefore, I will be sharing research on
As a professional practice, settings are responsible for the delivery of core subjects, dictated through specific curriculums. The term curriculum ( or curricula) refers to a set of courses and their content offered in educational institutes, such as schools,(Doherty and Hughes, 2009). Its context is said to describe: a body of theory about teaching and learning, targeting the needs and characteristics of a particular group of learners,(Veale,2013). It often refers to the programmes’ objectives and goals, as well as its methods and materials, (Universal Design for Learning Guidelines, 2014). “Curricula are undoubtedly culturally shaped and cannot always be readily transferred from one environment to another,”(p.5, Miller and Pound. 2011).
The curriculum in my classroom will utilize hands-on activities and concrete materials. The curriculum selected for my classroom will be researched-based, multi-dimensional, and support children’s development in all aspects. Children of all levels will be supported through intentionally planned experiences. There will be a balance between teacher planned activities and activities that emerge from the children’s interest.
When children are getting ready for their first day of school, they have no idea what is in store for them. Their mom’s and dad’s take them to get their first school supplies and new backpacks. What they don’t realize is that at the same time, their soon-to-be teachers are making the curriculums for the upcoming school year. When the word curriculum is used people have a general idea of what it means, but there has never been an agreed upon definition of the word. It has been said “Educational practitioners, theorists, and researchers have used the term curriculum in various ways, with no definitions universally accepted. Among the definitions currently used are the following: A course of study; derived from the Latin Currerere, meaning to run a course, Subject matter; the information or knowledge that students are to learn, Planned learning experiences, Intended learning outcomes; the results of instruction as distinguished from the means of instruction, All the experiences that students have while at school or in a non school educational program, and The experiences, both planned and unplanned, that enhance (and sometimes impede) the education and growth of students.”(Parkay and Hass, 2000 p. 2) All of those definitions are correct. A curriculum can have many differing definitions, but each definition has the common theme that a curriculum allows for some type of experience that expands intellect. The importance of Early Childhood Curriculums is a huge part in a child’s learning that can set the stage for their entire academic career.
When reviewing the literature regarding the past, present and future of educational curriculum, several main points seem apparent, namely that curriculum is cyclical, that a dilemma or paradox exists, and that curriculum must be looked at with a sensitive view.
When curriculum not only explains what is being taught to the child, but also explains how to teach the material and word it in a unique way, the child more easily comprehends what is being taught and remembers it. If the curriculum is easy for the parent to learn and teach, it is also easy for the student to follow along and comprehend it, which "hits two birds with one
Curriculum is important being it’s the underlying factor that plays a role in determining ones growth, achievement and success. The majority of curriculum con...
A curriculum is a compilation of study materials that are used at all grade levels, classroom and homework assignments and a set of teacher guides. It could also include a list of prescribed methodology and guidelines of teaching and some material for the parents etc. It is generally determined by an external governing body. However, there are some cases where it may be developed by the schools and teachers themselves.
Since then, Basic Principles of Curriculum and Instruction has been a standard reference for anyone working with curriculum development. Although not a strict how-to guide, the book shows how educators can critically approach curriculum planning, studying progress and retooling when needed. Its four sections focus on setting objectives, selecting learning experiences, organizing instruction, and evaluating progress. Readers will come away with a firm understanding of how to formulate educational objectives and how to analyze and adjust their plans so that students meet the objectives. Tyler also explains that curriculum planning is a continuous, cyclical process, an instrument of education that needs to be fine-tuned.